5 Month Marker & India Update

Wake up, make coffee, make my bed, we gonna rock today cuz you’re a rockstar baby. Time to conquer the world, one step at a time.

Exit the door. Then it hits me.

Holey moley I’m in India! Still in India!!

I’ve celebrated my 5 month anniversary here in India, yaaaay me! It’s insane to think about all the stuff I’ve done and seen here in this amazing country. It feels much longer than 5 months and there are still so many more fascinating adventures awaiting.

Is India on your bucket list?

If it is, and yes it should be, I’d recommend you check this one off as soon as possible. Don’t leave the grand Indian adventure for the latter end of your bucket list. They say India is a young person’s game; I’ve come to agree with that!

Luckily, for many tourists who swing by for one to two weeks, the issues should be minor. The rewards immense. Well worth it. Traveler’s diarrhea: easily overcome with some strong antibiotics. Squatty-Potties: see it as a unique cultural experience. No toilet paper, only some water to wash your tush: this is the one that takes time getting used to, I’ll admit. Thankfully, most touristy places will have western-style toilets and amenities. If it is up to your level of expectation is another question.

Whatever you may face in a short trip to India is very well worth it. For those staying longer than a few months, the game changes a bit. I do believe my powers to adapt are strong, however, there have been some surprises along the way!

Not all that glitters is gold

All this adventuring through exotic places does not come without a few hardships. My body has paid the price more than ever before and all truth be told, it was a surprise to me. I just spent the last two days in Delhi sleeping more than 10 hours a day and I’m finally feeling human again! Good enough to start the work week off on the right foot. Currently, my stomach has no issues and allergic reactions to the pollution have also gone away. What I’m left with is this constant feeling of fatigue, or traveler’s malaise as some say.

I’ve also gotten GNARLY headaches with light sensitivity issues; something which is not new for me but has really gotten worse here. In Delhi specifically. I was quite alright in Goa! After a few hours of being out and about in Delhi, I’m straight up ready to murder somebody. Legally, this is rather problematic; in a court of law I wouldn’t understand a thing. How would I mount my defense? Also, logistically: How do you say shovel in Hindi? I’d be giving myself away!

Therefore, I hurry home instead and wear my shades around the apartment and strum one meaningless chord over and over on the guitar until the storm passes by. I’d like to say I’m exaggerating for comedy sake but this is an actual account of what happens.

I’ve also gotten GNARLY headaches with light sensitivity issues; something which is not new for me but has really gotten worse here. In Delhi specifically. I was quite alright in Goa! After a few hours of being out and about in Delhi, I’m straight up ready to murder somebody. Legally, this is rather problematic. Therefore, I hurry home instead and wear my shades around the apartment and strum one meaningless chord over and over on the guitar until the storm passes by. I’d like to say I’m exaggerating for comedy sake but this is an actual account of what happens.

One big Anyways…

All in all, life in Delhi is feeling more like “home”, a little more everyday. I try to build rapport with a small circle of people. To do this, I try to get my haircut at the same place, get Chai on a regular basis with the same old grandma selling it near the apartment from a makeshift tea-stand. Well actually she’s sitting on the ground. I go for veg Momo’s with the same dude near the metro station. Always get the veg option. You can try the non-veg but god only knows what you’re eating. As far as yoga, is concerned, I stick to just one studio for now. Everyone there is super friendly and happy to see me when I make it to class. It’s a nice little community that feels very different to the snobby yoga studios of California.

In this way, a few faces become familiar in what would otherwise be a sprawling metropolis of 20 million and growing.

February will fly by at light speed since I’ve taken on a few extra commitments. March: try to make it to the Kumbh Mela, another wedding invite, and an invitation to visit an Indian homie in his hometown of Hyderbad.

April: Going, going, back to back, to Cali Cali! (for a few weeks, then back to Hindustan!) A much needed re-charging of batteries with that California sunshine, family time, and the puppy-love!